LEWISTON – Lewiston’s response to white supremacists last January will go under the microscope in Massachusetts Thursday.
City Administrator Jim Bennett, Police Chief Bill Welch, Department of Justice representative Marty Walsh and community activist Mark Schlotterbeck will discuss the city’s preparations for the Jan. 11 rallies at the Massachusetts Human Rights and Relations Commission in Medford, Mass. The group will participate in a daylong seminar on hate groups and strategies for maintaining peace during hate group rallies.
Dozens of members of the World Church of the Creator converged on Lewiston Jan. 11 to rally against Somalis in Lewiston. They were met by a thousand anti-white supremacists. Meanwhile, several thousand others gathered peacefully at a pro-diversity rally across town.
Police were well prepared for the rallies and counter-rallies, and the day ended with only one arrest and no reported injuries.
Schlotterbeck said he plans to attend both the seminar in Massachusetts and an awards ceremony in Maine Thursday evening
“We’ll be talking about how to have a positive, peaceful rally in that situation,” Schlotterbeck said. “I think it’ll be a good opportunity to reflect all that happened on that day and share some of our learnings.”
Representatives from Wakefield, Mass., will also be on hand, discussing their experiences with hate groups.
The Massachusetts commission is made up of local government representatives from the Bay State who are responsible for promoting human and civil rights and harmonious civil relationships.
Comments are no longer available on this story